Mattress



M. G. STEVENSON.

MATTRESS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 10, 1917 m: Mmnls PEYERS co.v Pnora urnov. WASHING mu. 0. c

Patented June 17, 1919.

attozne o MINERVA GLADDIS STEVENSON, OF ORANGE LAKE, FLORIDA.

MATTRESS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 1W, I919.

Application filed November 10, 1917. Serial No. 201,303.

To all whom it may concern: 4

Be it known that I, MINERVA G. STEVEN- SON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Orange Lake, in the county of Marion and State of Florida, have invented a new and useful Mattress, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to mattresses for use by invalid-s, one of the objects of the invention being to provide an air-tight and water-tight mattress adapted to be readily inflated or filled and which, when not in use, can be folded into a compact bundle and stored readily.

A further object is to provide a mattress having an opening therethrough which can be closed normally by an inflatable plug, it being possible readily to remove the plug by deflating it and permitting it to drop out of its position.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mattress embodying the present improvements.

Fig. 2 is a section on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designates a mattress made of rubber or other material capable of retaining air or water and which mattress is capable of being folded into a compact bundle when not in use. The mattress has a valve inlet 2 through which air or water may be forced for the purpose of extending the mattress so that it can be used.

A downwardly tapered passage 3 is formed in the mattress and is designed to receive a collapsible conical plug 4 formed of rubber or the like and which has a valve inlet 5 in its lower end through which air can be forced or through which air can be withdrawn. plug upwardly into the passage 3 and then inflating it, it will expand within the passage and completely close and as the plug is tapered when inflated, it will be apparent that the same will not fall out of position but will be retained securely as long as it remains inflated.

Should it be desired to remove the plug from the opening to- [permit use of the opening by the patient it becomes necessary merely to open the air inlet to the plug thus to permit the air to escape and the plug to collapse.

An apron 6 preferably of waterproof material may be secured to the top of the mattress adjacent the opening 8 and is adapted to be drawn upwardly between the limbs of the patient and to rest on the body, thus to act as a hood or shield to prevent the escape of odors.

A device such as described is perfectly sanitary because it is not necessary to use any sheets thereon between the patient and the mattress and the mattress can be readily cleaned with a sponge or the like.

Hot or cold water can be used for holding the mattress distended if air should not be used.

What is claimed is A pneumatic mattress having an opening extending therethrough, the walls of the opening being tapered downwardly, and a plug insertible upwardly into the opening, said plug being inflatable to completely fill the opening and to bind upon the walls thereof, the upper and lower end of the plug lying flush with the corresponding faces of the mattress and the upper end of said plug being of greater diameter than the lower end to prevent downward withdrawal of the plug while inflated, the wall of the opening being held by pressure of air within the mattress against the wall of the plug.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two-witnesses.

MRS. MINERVA GLADDIS STEVENSON.

Witnesses:

M. LENA BURRY, B. F. VAUGHAN. v

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). G.

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